What a lovely, peaceful, happy place in the beautiful village of Kinderhook. I could/often do spend…read morewhole afternoons here. XOXO.

The renovated library is beautiful and the staff is always incredibly friendly and helpful. Just…read moredon't forget your earplugs / headphones--unless you're in the quiet room--it is VERY NOISY!

Long wait to get help. Do not answer the phone. The people that work there are very nice but they…read moreare understaffed. They do the best they can with the staff they have.

Changed from survivor benefits to my own. Was supposed to get a one time deposit of the difference…read morein August. It was sent to someones account, not mine. I have been there every month since. They did correct the account so I have received the monthly amount. Still waiting for the other. Always an excuse--requested the funds returned, supervisor requested the funds be returned, put in a request for funds, you should have it in 10 business days. every month go through the details and get another story.

This is a fun statue in the middle of Kinderhook that basically provides a photo opportunity. If…read moreyou're walking around town, take a moment, sit down beside Bronze Martin, and snap a shot. It will be a nice memory of your visit to the village.

He was the first US President to be born as an American citizen…read more He remains the only President not to have spoken English as a child.. He spoke Dutch! He was America's eighth president, and was born and raised in the tiny town of Kinderhook, some 25 miles south of Albany, NY His name was used in a very funny subplot on a Seinfeld episode. This excellent statue shows an older Van Buren sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. He holds a walking stick in his left hand and is groomed with one amazing pair of mutton chop sideburns. A plaque to the side of the bench reads: Martin Van Buren 1782 - 1862 Eighth President of the United States Born, Raised and Buried in the Village of Kinderhook Gift of: Friends of Lindenwald Sculptor: Edward Hlavka Dedicated July 14, 2007

very helpful What's there to say it's a post office not rude and it's never crowded. I have to get…read moreto 85 characters to post this, so I'm just talking on.

This post office is conveniently located in the center of the Village of Kinderhook just steps from…read morethe bank. A few new, high-end eateries recently opened just across the street. I like to grab a coffee, spend some time at the farmer's market on Saturdays, then pick up my mail and packages. There's ample municipal parking (directly in front of the building). Postal vehicles are tucked behind the building and out of sight. Service is friendly in this lovely historical building.

This house was where British General John Burgoyne was hosted as a POW after his loss at Saratoga…read morein October 1777. This house is an interesting landmark for it's historical value. It is not open to the public.

This house is where the pre-treasonous Benedict Arnold recuperated after being wounded at the…read moreBattle of Bemis Heights. The house is an interesting landmark for what it represents historically. It is not open to the Public.

Martin Van Buren's residence, Lindenwald, is tucked away in the peaceful town of Kinderhook, New…read moreYork. It's a unique window into the life of America's 8th president. I had visited the site years ago when there was a larger visitor center and an introductory video that gave a broader overview of Van Buren's presidency and personal story. Today, the visitor's center has been scaled back to a trailer, and unfortunately, there's very little introductory context provided for those less familiar with Van Buren's role in American history. One of the main displays now focuses on the history of slavery in America. While this is an important topic, its placement here felt somewhat disconnected, as Van Buren neither owned enslaved people nor lived in a slaveholding state during his time at Lindenwald. Given the limited space available, I found myself wishing more of it had been used to explore Van Buren's own political career, personal life, and legacy. They only have a few tour times a day, and the guide cited budget cuts with a roll of her eyes. We waited around a bit for the next tour, but the audio tour around the property wasn't very informative. Once our group tour began, it opened in the empty basement, where much of the discussion centered on the broader legacy of slavery and Sojourner Truth. While those subjects are historically valuable, their connection to Lindenwald itself felt tenuous and overshadowed the site's direct link to Van Buren. It appeared the tour guide had a greater interest in that topic than on the actual topic. Upstairs, the rooms were far more engaging. The main hall was particularly impressive, featuring original design elements and beautiful wallpaper. The guide shared some insight into Van Buren's later life, though key biographical details--such as the early death of his wife--were only briefly mentioned at the end. The tour concluded at a small gift shop with a nice selection of books and keepsakes. Overall, having prior knowledge of Van Buren helped me piece things together, but for first-time visitors, the lack of focus on his presidential legacy may leave them wanting more. I couldn't help but think that some of the funding loss was due to the staff losing sight of the park's primary purpose. Lindenwald remains a special site with strong potential. I hope future interpretive efforts rebalance the content to better highlight Van Buren's contributions and the historical significance of the home itself.

An interesting historical tidbit. This historic site includes Van Buren's "gentleman's farm" and…read moreestate called Lindenwald. He bought the estate later in his life in 1839. Washington Irving (the famous author) was a notable long-term guest at Lindenwald. Fee: Free Tip: if you want to tour the historic house, budget at least 2 hours because you might show up while a tour is in progress and need to wait for the next tour.